Two Marines based at Cherry Point face charges in Onslow County for allegedly breaking into a church.

Zachary Ryan Johnson, 19, and Tyler Christopher Douglas, 19, each face charges of breaking/entering a place of worship and resist/delay/obstruct a public officer, according to a release from the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were dispatched around 12:30 p.m. Saturday to the church at 1194 Burgaw Highway (N.C. 53) after a woman visiting a grave noticed two men wearing backpacks behind the building, according to the release. The two men fled the scene before deputies arrived, one dropping a knife.

About eight hours later, Deputy Larry Johnson spotted the two suspects at the Scotchman Store about 300 yards from the church, according to the release. Johnson called for backup and questioned the two men, who ran off before help could arrive.

A police dog was brought in, and both suspects were located about two hours later under a bridge about two miles from the church, according to the release.

After the arrest, deputies discovered that the two suspects had fled from military authorities, according to the release.

With Monday being a federal holiday for Columbus Day, military authorities could not immediately be reached.

Johnson and Douglas were both being held in the Onslow County Justice Center before being turned over the military authorities, according to the release.